How to Respond to an Intervention

An intervention is usually done by family or friends who are highly concerned about your current life situations and choices. A survey done by the WebMD shows that more than two-thirds of American families have dealt with substance abuse and addiction. WebMD goes on to state 22 percent of Americans are affected by mental health disorders, such as personality disorders (15 percent), obsessive-compulsive disorders (8 percent) and bipolar disorder (2.4 percent). Any of these situations can lead to personal and professional problems, prompting the need for an intervention by family, friends and other loved ones.

Instructions

• 1

  Resist fighting or arguing with those loved ones or friends who initiated the intervention. These people believe you are in need of some form of assistance, which you might not be able to see due to your addiction, mental illness or problem behavior.

• 2

  Consider the magnitude of your addiction, mental illness or problem behavior and how it has been affecting you and your family. An intervention is a sign that things have taken a turn for the worse or are impacting you and your loved ones in a significant way.

• 3

  Keep an open mind and listen to what everyone involved in the intervention has to say. You may have been cut off from your family, and you could be angry with them or disagree with why they staged an intervention. Sit down and be willing to hear out every person involved in the intervention. Sitting down is not admitting you have a problem; rather, it is being respectful of those who took the time to care about you.

• 4

  Talk to your family about how you view your situation. Explain your life choices and the reasons for them, as well as the direction you want your life to go. Your family may not agree with what you are saying, but you should still express yourself in a respectful manner.

• 5

  Consider the options your family and friends are discussing with you. Going to a rehabilitation or mental health facility might not be what you had in mind for your current situation, but it might be what is necessary for you at this juncture in your life.